Responsabilidad ética

Holidays

Students in both the BSW and MSW Foundation Field experience are entitled to observe all University holidays except Diadeloso. Baylor University holidays are published in the Schedule of Classes and the Field calendar that is given at the beginning of the internship. In the event that an agency holiday which is not an official Baylor University holiday falls on a scheduled internship day, the student must make up such hours as agreed upon by the student, Field Instructor and Task Supervisor (if applicable). If the University and the agency are closed, the student is not required to make up the hours. In the event that an official Baylor University holiday is not observed by the agency, the student can choose to either go in to the agency for internship or make up such hours as agreed upon by the student, Field Instructor and Task Supervisor (if applicable). Students and supervisors should discuss the Baylor University

holiday schedule at the beginning of each semester to agree on these arrangements and document it in the learning contract. Please note: Spring Break is not factored into the required 480 hours, and is therefore not subject to this policy. Students are entitled to observe Spring Break but will not be granted hours for it according to the holiday policy.

Inclement Weather

In the event of inclement weather that restricts travel, the student shall first follow the University ruling. If the University and the agency are closed, the student is excused from his/her

placement, and is not required to make up the hours. If the University is closed, but the agency is open, the student is expected to report to the agency if s/he is able to travel there safely. In such a case the student may elect, with the permission of agency-based Field Instructor or Task Supervisor not to go to the agency, but the time missed must be made up. If the agency is closed, but the University is open, the student is also required to make up the missed time.

For placements out of the identified local area, the student shall follow the agency ruling. If the agency is closed, the student is excused from the placement and is not required to make up the hours.

In any case, local or distant, if the agency is open but the student is unable to safely go to the agency, the hours may be made up when travel can be accomplished safely. The student shall notify the agency and make arrangements for rescheduling client appointments and other work responsibilities.

Students must be in clear communication with a sense of urgency with the Task Supervisor, Field Instructor and Field Liaison regarding arrangements for his or her whereabouts during times of inclement weather on internship days.

Dress Code

Students are expected to abide by the dress code of the agency. Students are responsible for dressing professionally remembering that they represent the professional staff of the agency and that they represent the School of Social Work. Modest professional dress that is consistent with the policy of the agency and reflects professionalism is expected of all students in the Field.

Sick Leave

In the case of illness or injury necessitating absence from the Field setting, students shall notify the Field Instructor (and Task Supervisor, if applicable) at the earliest possible time and take responsibility for canceling or rescheduling appointments and/or meetings. Hours missed must be made up within two weeks of the day(s) missed, and at the time agreed upon by the student, Field Instructor, and Task Supervisor (if applicable). Any arrangements that differ from this policy must be approved by and given in writing to the Field Instructor, Task Supervisor and Field Liaison. If the student misses more than two consecutive days, or more than three days collectively at any point during the semester, the Field Liaison shall be notified by the student and by the Field Instructor and be included in approval of the plan for making up the hours. Students shall follow the policies of the agency regarding working when ill.

Travel

It is the student's responsibility to secure transportation to and from the Field setting. It is also the student's responsibility to provide his/her own liability insurance coverage for agency-related travel if no such coverage is provided by the agency. The Baylor School of Social Work does not reimburse students for the use of their automobiles or for other expenses incurred in the conduct of agency business. Agencies are encouraged but not required to reimburse interns for mileage for agency business. It is the strong recommendation of the School of Social Work that interns not transport clients in their own vehicles. Baylor University does not provide any coverage for transportation of clients. Interns who transport clients do so under their own automobile insurance and at their own risk and liability.

Students may travel with agency representatives on agency business. Any Field internship trips out of the area must be reported to the Field Liaison prior to the trip and must be reflected on the learning contract. The student is responsible for communicating with the Field Liaison any plans

to travel as part of the Field internship out of the local service area. Students will not share overnight accommodations with Field Instructors or Task Supervisors or anyone with supervisory responsibility or authority over the student.

Professional Liability Insurance

The University provides limited professional liability insurance coverage for students involved in professional Field internships in the United States. This insurance includes coverage for

professional activities required as part of the educational experience only. The School of Social Work has been assured by duly appointed University administrators that this coverage is

adequate and will cover both in compensated and uncompensated placements. However, the faculty strongly recommends each student also purchase his/her own professional liability insurance through NASW or a comparable professional group or private insurance firm. Students should also ask the agency about availability of professional liability or malpractice insurance coverage provided by the agency. The limited professional liability insurance coverage provided by the University does not cover internship activities outside of the United States.

Personal Safety Guidelines

Students are encouraged to be aware that social work practice includes some potential for risk to personal safety. It is the responsibility of the student to assess the risk of environmental factors and to take precautions for personal safety. A guide for discussion of safety in the agency is provided on the Field Education Blackboard site and as part of the internship seminar. This guide is for discussion and not intended to be prescriptive for agencies. Additionally, students should request in-service training and orientation in the agency regarding the particular personal safety information in that setting. The student should review the personnel policies and safety guidelines of the agency before any work with the agency begins. Students are expected to follow the recommended safety guidelines of the practice setting rigorously, and additionally to use discernment when making home visits or delivering services in the community. Students should always let someone in the agency know where s/he will be when working outside of the agency offices. Students have the right and the responsibility to report any unsafe situation to a supervisor and request alternate assignment. They have the right and responsibility to appeal to the Field Liaison or Director of Field Education – Generalist Practice if they have concerns about the response to their request. Finally, students are expected to follow the infection control

guidelines of the agency to protect from contagious diseases. A guideline for Social Worker Safety written and provided by permission of Dr. Isaac Gusukuma is provided in the Field seminar courses to assist students with personal safety protection.

Students in placements outside the local area (90 mile radius of the School) will follow Baylor’s “Off-Site Academic Programs within the United States Policy”:

Academic programs may require academic credit through experience in clinical or other business locations that are not part of Baylor facilities. Such off-site programs may place a single student participant in an off-site location without the presence of Baylor faculty or support. Student participants in off-site programs are encouraged to plan carefully all aspects of the off-site experience to maximize the academic experience and minimize any potential safety or health

problems. The following guidelines emphasize student responsibility for planning and for communicating during the program and in the event of any emergency.

1. Know how to obtain emergency health and law enforcement services off site.

2. Obtain, read and carefully consider materials related to the off-site location, particularly those materials relating to safety and health issues in the off-site program and locale.

3. Consider your health and personal circumstances when applying for or accepting placement in the off-site program.

4. Make available to the off-site program and Baylor accurate and complete physical and mental health information and any other personal data that is necessary to plan a safe and healthy off-site program experience.

5. Assume responsibility for all the elements necessary for personal preparation for the off- site program.

6. Participate fully in any orientations by the off-site program and Baylor.

7. Obtain or maintain appropriate insurance coverage, particularly health insurance in the event of sickness or injury during the program.

8. Inform next of kin and others with a need to know about participation in the off-site program.

9. Provide next of kin with emergency contact information, and keep them informed on an ongoing basis.

10. Understand and comply with the off-site program’s terms of participation, codes of conduct, and emergency procedures, as well as Baylor’s terms of participation, codes of conduct, and emergency procedures. (Baylor’s codes of conduct apply off site.)

11. Be aware of local conditions that may present health or safety risks when making daily choices and decisions. Promptly express any health or safety concerns to the off-site program and Baylor.

In case of an emergency or threat to your safety while on campus, inform Baylor Department of Public Safety (254) 710-2222. In case of an emergency or threat to your safety while in the Field, follow the safety procedures of your Field agency and promptly notify the Director of Field Education – Generalist practice or the appropriate Associate Dean.

International Field Internships

International Field internship experiences are not currently offered for students in the BSW or MSW Foundation Field experience. Any international experience must include approval through Baylor University’s International Programs office. Contact the Coordinator of International

Programs at 710-1461. Students must follow all safety requirements established through that office. The approval process may take several weeks so students interested in an international experience for the Advanced Practice Field experience should be planning with the Director of Field Education – Advanced Practice and the Office of International Programs before final decisions around internships are made.

Students participating in international travel as a part of their internship will follow all Baylor University and agency policies and procedures regarding travel abroad. Students who believe that international travel may be a potential opportunity within the context of their local internship placement should discuss the opportunity right away with the Director of Field Education – Generalist Practice and must have approval of the Field Education office and the Office of International Programs before any decisions around short-term international travel are made.

Field Grievance Policy

The Baylor University School of Social Work Grievance Policy is found in the School of Social Work Catalog. The University’s grievance policy is in the University Student Handbook. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with these policies and to initiate implementation when needed.

In instances where a student's rights have been allegedly denied or violated with respect to his/her Field experience, the student should formally discuss the issue with his/her Field Instructor and Task Supervisor. If the student feels that the meeting does not provide a satisfactory resolution, the student should request a meeting with his/her Field Instructor and faculty Field Liaison. If this meeting does not lead to a satisfactory resolution of the issue, the faculty Field Liaison will schedule a meeting with the Director of Field Education – Generalist Practice, Field Instructor, and the student. If resolution is not reached, the student may request in writing a meeting with the Associate Dean for Baccalaureate Studies (BSW students) or the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies (MSW foundation students), Director of Field Education – Generalist Practice, faculty Field Liaison, and Field Instructor. If this meeting does not result in a satisfactory resolution for the student, he/she may request in writing to discuss the issue with the Dean of the School of Social Work. The student also has the option of filing a grievance with the Academic Appeals Committee as prescribed in the BU SSW catalog.

Confidentiality

The NASW Code of Ethics serves as our guide for confidentiality in all aspects of the Field experience. Students sign a release of information (Information Sharing Form) which makes provision for discussion of the student’s learning needs and successes and information pertinent to the Field Education experience and client services among the social work faculty and the Field personnel. Students are also bound by the Code of Ethics pertaining to confidentiality in matters relating to clients both in contacts as part of the agency, and in contacts within the educational setting, including the integrative seminar. A breach in confidentiality can be grounds for termination and could even be grounds for reporting professional malpractice. Students are required to know and abide by the agency’s policies regarding confidentiality, specifically with regard to documentation, clients’ records, and informed consent to make referrals and release information.

Within the educational context, there will, of necessity be discussion regarding clients and the intern’s practice. The intern is expected to protect the client’s identity in those discussions and on process recordings by disguising names and situations, not revealing information that is not pertinent to the discussion, and following agency policy regarding documentation. Additionally, seminar participants are expected to protect client information discussed during the processing portion of the seminar.

Sexual Harassment

The School of Social Work endorses the Baylor University policy prohibiting sexual harassment and expects that the Field environment will be free from sexual harassment. Interns are

encouraged to examine policy within the agency regarding sexual harassment and should notify the faculty Field Liaison and the Director of Field Education – Generalist Practice immediately in the event there is any incident which appears to involve sexual harassment.

International Travel

Students participating in international travel as a part of their internship will follow all Baylor University and agency policies and procedures regarding travel abroad.

Media Interviews

From time to time, students, in their role as interns in their respective agencies, may be approached by the media to comment or give opinions on various issues, and/or agency

programs, policies and practice. Students are to refer all such requests to their agency-based Task Supervisor/Field Instructor and/or the agency public relations staff. When the Field Instructor is not agency-based, students, also, will report the request to their Field Instructor and indicate how the student disposed of the request. Notice should also be given to the Field Liaison and Director of Field Education – Generalist Practice.

*NASW Code of Ethics and Texas State Code of Ethics can be found at the following websites: www.socialworkers.org and http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/socialwork/sw_conduct.shtm